Posted By Jonathan Cyprowski On October 19, 2009 @ 10:20 pm In Featured,NFL | No Comments

The city of Pittsburgh loves to celebrate their team. Sometimes a little too much, but how many times has a player been put in handcuffs after a win?

Things get a little rowdy on Steeler game days. Tailgating starts in the early hours of the morning, and pours into the bars and restaurants that line the Southside and North Shore of the city after a victory.

Like anywhere else, there is always that one guy (and sometimes a couple of his buddies) who can’t handle himself once a few beers are in his system. That’s usually when rowdy becomes obnoxious, and someone has to call the police.

Sunday night was no exception on the North Shore in Pittsburgh.

Around 9 p.m. on Sunday night, police were responding to an incident when they noticed a man urinating beside a white SUV outside McFadden’s on the 200 block of North Shore Drive. The officers approached, only to find out that the man was Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth.

When the officer continued to write Spaeth a citation for urinating in public, Steelers kicker Jeff Reed emerged from the vehicle and began to argue with officers. Reed refused to get back in the SUV and, according to the police affidavit, put up his fists and got into a fighter’s stance.

Reed was forced to the ground and continued to fight as the police cuffed his hands behind his back.

According to the same affidavit, the officers at the scene said Reed smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared to be intoxicated.

After Reed calmed down, the officers released him to his father, who was driving the SUV. Reed was issued multiple citations including simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness.

He will have to appear in court to face these charges, but this isn’t his first rodeo. This is the second time this year that Reed will face charges of disorderly conduct.

Reed pleaded guilty to charges of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief back in February after he harassed employees and kicked a paper towel dispenser off of the wall in a Sheetz gas station in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

According to police reports, several witnesses said Reed became enraged when he found that there were no paper towels in the dispenser on the bathroom wall.

Reed proceeded to damage the dispenser during a profanity-laced tirade directed at the convenience store employees. He continued the tirade even after leaving the store, and was given a citation and fined $543.50, a sum including $210 in damages to the Sheetz gas station.

The NFL later fined Reed $10,000 dollars for his actions, and the league has promised to investigate the incident that took place Sunday night as well.

According to Reed’s agent Don Henderson, he plans on contesting the charges, but the fact that he has been known for similar behavior before does not give him much of a leg to stand on.

The attitude and behavior Reed continues to exhibit could force the NFL to take action, and second-time indiscretions are typically met with harsher penalties.

The strictness with which the NFL deals with public offenders may be second only to that of the Steelers' front office. The franchise seldom tolerates off-the-field misconduct, and does not take kindly to the repeat offenders who mistake grace for tolerance.

Reed has been a model of consistency over the last several years. His sure foot has held the Steelers intact through several offensive rough patches in recent seasons. However, his inconsistency this season puts him in a rocky position after refusing to sign an extension offered to him in the off-season.

Being in the last year of his contract, Reed’s-off-the field issues could have him fighting and kicking for his job rather than to keep from going to jail or to get a larger number on the bottom line of his contract.

The Steelers most likely will not put up with any further issues regarding Reed’s off the field activities. He is going to have to prove himself not only between the lines, but outside them if he hopes to get his new contract and be wearing the number three in Pittsburgh next season.